WEINDEL YEARNS FOR SOUTHSIDE MAVERICKS’ GLORY DAYS

There’s nothing slow about Southside defensive back Bennett Weindel. In terms of being where he’s supposed to be, and getting there quickly, Weindel’s on another level. “His motor runs,” said Southside defensive backs coach Craig Jones. “He’s going to go full speed, whether he’s on special teams or whether he’s running off the field.” Weindel’s senior season begins Friday at Bentonville West. And, if teammate Darin Davenport has anything to say about, the Mavericks’ strong safety won’t lead the team in tackles again this season. “Both safeties had over 100 tackles last year,” Weindel said of Davenport’s return. “That’s really not something safeties are supposed to do. This year, don’t have to worry as much about stopping the run, because he’s (Davenport) going to be huge.” “We’re going to play a little more zone this year, so we have to make sure he stays in his zone coverage,” Jones said. ”(But) he’s going to outrun a lot of people to the ball, just because he goes fast all the time.” Weindel’s not just fast, he’s exuberant about the start of his senior season. The Mavericks are in a good place. Unranked, out of sight, out of mind. Related More Southside Mavericks football But the team returns most of its offensive firepower from 2017. And the secondary is now three years older. “With he and Mason (Gregory), it’s like having two brothers back there,” Southside coach Jeff Williams said. “Attitude-wise, he’s (Weindel) unbelievable. You can see the confidence building in him from last year.” “You always feel good going into the season,” Weindel said. ”(But) we struggled a little bit on the tackling side. Our practices last year, they were intense. But this year, it’s a new level. We’re hitting a lot harder, we’re running a lot faster, and we’re not stopping at the ball. I feel a lot better about our team. I’m confident and ready to go.” Williams says Jones and Weindel have developed a father-son relationship. “During the summer, I had each position group over to the house to swim — just to get to know the guys personally,” Williams said. “I wanted to know if he was Craig’s adopted son, because they’re just alike. He’s a tough-minded guy.” “He also coaches me in baseball, so he’s been my coach year-round,” Weindel said. “He’ll even take me outside of sports; we’ll go hunting and fishing. We’re super close. I look up to him; I respect him a lot.” It’s a mutual relationship for Jones as well. “He’s got a little bit more confidence after last year’s season,” Jones said. “He was a little timid, I think, as a sophomore, and then he had some success last year, so he brings a little bit more confidence.” Rough season The Mavericks have endured back-to-back three-win seasons, a first for the school. And the 2018 nonconference schedule is anything but soft. Southside opens with high-powered Bentonville West, then return home (Sept. 7) to play Greenwood. Bentonville West scored no fewer than 35 points in all 12 games a year ago. And, while Greenwood graduated some offensive monsters, coach Rick Jones has had six months to reconstruct his team. “Coach Williams said he’s had two losing seasons, and that’s been the last two seasons we’ve been here,” Weindel said. “There’s really a lot riding on us right now. I know Bentonville West has a phenomenal receiver (Jadon Jackson), but if we shut him down, we’ll be all right. But, we can’t just worry about the one receiver — we have to worry about the whole team. They have a powerhouse offense. They’re a stout team. “But we’re older this season, and I feel like if we do our assignments and do our job and stop that one receiver, we’ll be all right.” Jackson caught 62 passes for 1,241 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. Loves the ‘D’ Weindel wasn’t unlike other elementary school football hopefuls growing up who planned to set the world on first as a quarterback or running back. But in junior high, Weindel’s philosophy morphed toward defense. “When I was little, I wanted to be the one that scored the touchdown,” Weindel said. “I wanted to run the ball. But once I started to get older, I realized you have to have a defense to win. You can’t just outscore everybody; you have to be able to shut teams down, and I think that’s what we’ve struggled at the last couple of years, giving up 40 points a game. “Defense really called me out. I know if we do our part, the offense is going to score.” Weindel isn’t just quick to the football. He’s a ball-hawking safety, too. “Last year we were playing against Cabot, and in that offense, you have to be disciplined,” Williams said. “They threw one pass, in the fourth quarter, and he picks it off. It just shows you the mentality he has.”

WEINDEL YEARNS FOR SOUTHSIDE MAVERICKS’ GLORY DAYS

KEVIN TAYLOR

Times Record | 8/26/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: Brian D. Sanderford